The book gives an overview of how differences in ideology and other circumstances in the Missouri-Kansas border area in the years prior to the Civil War led to violence. Major players in the conflict are examined: William Quantrill, the James brothers, Jim Jarrette, the Younger Brothers, Kit Dalton, and even a great grandson of Daniel Boone, Daniel Boone Scholl. Many primary resources are presented and the book is illustrated with some not often seen photographs of the characters presented.